Hanoi in 1 Day: The Perfect One-Day Itinerary
Only have one day in Hanoi? You can still wander the Old Quarter, see the Temple of Literature, catch the train on Train Street and end with a water-puppet show and street food. Here is how to spend one perfect day in Hanoi — plus the best-rated tours to book.
At a glance
- 1Old Quarter & Hoan Kiem Lake
- 2Temple of Literature
- 3Train Street coffee stop
- 4Water-puppet show & street food
Morning: the Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake
Start in the buzzing Old Quarter, walking its 36 ancient streets to Hoan Kiem Lake and the Ngoc Son Temple on its little island, before the day heats up.
Afternoon: temples and Train Street
Visit the serene Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university, then head to Train Street for a coffee at a trackside café — a guided tour knows the safe spots and train times.
Evening: water puppets and street food
Catch an early-evening water-puppet show at the Thang Long theatre, then dive into a street-food tour for pho, bun cha and egg coffee.
Book the experiences in this itinerary
Top-rated tours for exactly what this plan recommends in Hanoi — prices per person.
